Solved Background locked to solid color

[qmann28]

Hi everyone,

I was messing around with my background one day trying to find some pictures for my slideshow. I don't remember exactly what happened, but now I'm stuck on the solid color background. I can choose what color it's set as, but that's all. If I go into one of my or one of the default picture folders, the pictures all appear there looking perfectly fine and I can select them, but my background doesn't change. Anybody have a fix for this?

Also, I'm a computer newb so please make any help as simple as possible.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Welcome!

Make sure you have permission to change the background: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/62048-desktop-background-specify-prevent-change.html?filter

 

[Brink]

Hello Qmann, and welcome to Seven Forums.

In addition, double check to make sure that this option below in the Ease of Access Center is unchecked as well. If checked, you will only have a solid color background as well.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/67200-remove-background-images-where-available.html



Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[qmann28]

Unfortunately, I already had permission to change the background and "Remove Background Images" unchecked.

 

[Brink]

You can try a system restore using a restore point dated before this problem to see if it can fix it for you.

 

[freakyterrorist]

Sorry for dredging up an old thread but this was one of the top google results for me trying to solve this problem today...

Anyway there is a completely different solution for people who have been experiencing this in 2011. If you installed the Bing RSS feed theme then after the servers were shut down in feb 2011 you will be unable to change your desktop background despite applying those changes in the personalization menu. The solution is posted here Desktop stuck on solid colours - Win 7 Pro - Microsoft Answers and involves deleting a file from your themes folder...

"Copy and paste this into the search box at the bottom of your Start menu, then hit enter:
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\
In the window that opens, delete the TranscodedWallpaper file, then try to set a wallpaper normally again."

 

[Imperfect1]

This has happened to me on occasion, and although I've never figured out the cause, the fix has been relatively simple. This may not solve your problem, but it did fix my problem, so it's worth a try. . . just go into whichever folder you use to store your background images and double-click one. Voila! That image should immediately appear as the background on your desktop.

 

[bigredswims]

Sorry for dredging up an old thread but this was one of the top google results for me trying to solve this problem today...

Anyway there is a completely different solution for people who have been experiencing this in 2011. If you installed the Bing RSS feed theme then after the servers were shut down in feb 2011 you will be unable to change your desktop background despite applying those changes in the personalization menu. The solution is posted here Desktop stuck on solid colours - Win 7 Pro - Microsoft Answers and involves deleting a file from your themes folder...

"Copy and paste this into the search box at the bottom of your Start menu, then hit enter:
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Themes\
In the window that opens, delete the TranscodedWallpaper file, then try to set a wallpaper normally again."

I, too, apologize for bumping such an old thread. I'd spent a sizable chunk of my day on the internet, trying to figure out why only solid colors were being displayed on my desktop. The problem reared its head out of seemingly nowhere two weeks ago and it'd been wearing at my nerves until I just couldn't take it any more. This post was the perfect solution for my situation. Thank you!

 

[jdholland93]

Hello Qmann, and welcome to Seven Forums.

In addition, double check to make sure that this option below in the Ease of Access Center is unchecked as well. If checked, you will only have a solid color background as well.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/67200-remove-background-images-where-available.html

View attachment 57139

Hope this helps,
Shawn

I realize that this comment was posted over three years ago, but I just wanted to say THANK YOU because after literally an entire night of Googling, mucking around in the registry, countless restarts, and so on, THIS finally worked for me. THANK YOU, BRINK.

 

[computershoppe]

BRINK - Thanks You!

Damn Pesky Viruses

 

[Prizefighter]

neither of these worked for me

 

[Brink]

Hello Prizefighter, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Just to verify, is your Windows 7 currently activated?

If it's not and past the expiration period, then you would see a black desktop background.